Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Interactive Brokers vs Lime Financial
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Interactive Brokers |  Lime Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0Lower | $30,000 |
| Markets | Bonds, ETFs, Forex, Funds, Futures, Options, StocksCovers more | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures |
| Regulators | SEC, FCA, SIPC | FINRA, NFA |
| Margin rate | 4.38%Lower | 12.5% |
| Platforms | Client Portal, IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile, Trader Workstation | Lime Trader, Lime Trader Web, Lime Trader Mobile, Lime Direct, Sterling, CQG, TakeProfit |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, IRA, Joint, Corporate | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint, Corporate |
| Options contract fee | $0.65 | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | 3.38% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Stock trade fee ($0), Investor protection (SIPC up to USD 500,000).
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Key differences
- Interactive Brokers scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 9.1.
- Regulators: only Interactive Brokers offers SEC, FCA, SIPC.
- Regulators: only Lime Financial offers FINRA, NFA.
- Founded is lower at Interactive Brokers: 1978 vs 2000.
- Interactive Brokers is licensed in 1 more country.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Interactive Brokers: $0 vs $30,000.
- Margin rate is lower at Interactive Brokers: 4.38% vs 12.5%.
- Markets: only Interactive Brokers offers Bonds, Forex, Funds.
- Platforms: only Interactive Brokers offers Client Portal, IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile.
- Platforms: only Lime Financial offers Lime Trader, Lime Trader Web, Lime Trader Mobile.
Our verdict on each
Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers suits investors who want a single account across ISA, SIPP, IRA, joint and corporate holdings, with stocks, bonds, funds, forex, options and futures behind it. It ranks 1 of 213 brands on minimum deposit at $0, and stock trades are charged at $0.
Lime Financial
Lime Financial suits experienced traders and active day traders who want options and futures on a commission-free basis. Stock trades cost $0 and the account is regulated by FINRA and NFA with SIPC protection, but the account starts at $30,000, so the entry point is the trade-off.
Score breakdown
| Area | Interactive Brokers | Lime Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3HigherStock trades cost $0, the minimum deposit is $0 and an options contract costs $0.65. | 8.5Stock trades cost $0 and the model is commission-free, but opening requires $30,000, well past the €4.64 site median. |
| Offer | 9.6Account types cover isa, sipp and ira, and the market list spans bonds, etfs and forex. | 9.6 |
| Trust | 9.8Higher | 9.4 |
What each covers
| Markets | Interactive Brokers | Lime Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Account types | Interactive Brokers | Lime Financial |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | No |
| SIPP | Yes | No |
| IRA | Yes | Yes |
| Roth IRA | No | Yes |
| Joint | Yes | Yes |
| Corporate | Yes | Yes |
Where these facts come from
Interactive Brokers
- interactivebrokers.com: 9 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokersway.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- toponlineforexbrokers.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- euinvestinghub.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- eupersonalfinance.eu: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Lime Financial
- lime.co: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokercheck.finra.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Interactive Brokers | Lime Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 35 of 490 | 109 of 490 |
| Options trading platforms | 7 of 103 | 41 of 103 |
| Futures trading platforms | 8 of 83 | 28 of 83 |
| Margin trading brokers | 4 of 22 | 14 of 22 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Interactive Brokers | Lime Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Mobile app | Options, Futures, Demo account, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free, Low feesCovers more | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Experienced, Day traders |
| Legal entity | INTERACTIVE BROKERS LLC | Lime Trading Corp. |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 1978Lower | 2000 |
| Support channels | Help centre, Community | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Interactive Brokers | Lime Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio types | ETF | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Interactive Brokers | Lime Financial | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $30,000highest quarter | $10 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Margin rate | 4.38%below the median | 12.5%highest quarter | 8.79% |
| Options contract fee | $0.65above the median | Not confirmed | $0.59 |
| Interest on cash | 3.38%above the median | Not confirmed | 3% |
Median across 99 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Interactive Brokers
Pros
- A stock trade costs $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, the pairing behind rank 1 of 161 on stock trade fees among the brokers tracked here.
- The account types listed cover isa, sipp and ira, so an ISA, SIPP, IRA, joint or corporate account all sit under a single provider.
- bonds, etfs and forex puts stocks, ETFs, bonds, funds, forex, options and futures on the same account, with a margin rate of 4.38% for geared positions.
Cons
- Support runs on help centre and community, so a phone line and live chat sit outside the offer.
- bonds, etfs and forex covers shares, ETFs, bonds, funds, forex, options and futures but leaves out crypto and CFDs, which eToro lists in stocks, etfs and forex.
- An options contract costs $0.65 against a stock trade at $0, so options strategies pay a visible premium per contract.
Lime Financial
Pros
- Stock trades cost $0 on a commission-free model, so no per-trade charge
- Options and futures are available alongside stocks, etfs and options
- Regulated by FINRA and NFA, with investor protection of SIPC up to USD 500,000
Cons
- The minimum deposit of $30,000 puts Lime Financial beyond most starter accounts, ranking 210 of 213 on this measure
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre with no live chat listed
Who each suits
Interactive Brokers
Who it suits
- Investors holding money across several wrappers, since the account types listed cover isa, sipp and ira.
- Traders who want options, futures, forex and bonds alongside shares on a single account, per bonds, etfs and forex.
- Anyone starting with a small balance: the minimum deposit is $0 and fractional shares appear in the feature list (fractional shares and mobile app).
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who trades crypto or CFDs, since bonds, etfs and forex leaves both out while eToro lists them in stocks, etfs and forex.
- Readers who want a stated entry figure as a signal of the provider's target size, since Vantage publishes $5 where this broker's minimum is $0.
Lime Financial
Who it suits
- Experienced traders who want commission-free options and futures
- Day traders working across Lime Trader, Lime Trader Web and Lime Trader Mobile
- US accounts holders wanting SIPC protection
Who should look elsewhere
- Beginners building a first portfolio, who should look at CFI with a $0 entry point
- Small savers, who should compare Vantage at $5
- Readers wanting forex, CFDs or crypto, which sit outside stocks, etfs and options
Country by country
| Country | Interactive Brokers | Lime Financial |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Interactive Brokers
What does it cost to trade shares?+
A stock trade is charged at $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, so opening an account and dealing in shares carry no charge. The money sits in derivatives and leverage instead, where an options contract costs $0.65 and the margin rate is listed at 4.38%.
Is my money protected?+
The regulatory list runs to SEC, FCA and SIPC, and investor protection is stated as SIPC up to USD 500,000. The UK entry is the FCA under licence 208159, while the US side names the SEC and the SIPC membership SIPC member 53615. The protection figure describes the scheme stated for the account and says nothing about how a trade performs.
Lime Financial
What does it cost to trade stocks at Lime Financial?+
Stock trades cost $0, and the account runs on a commission-free model. There is no per-trade charge for equities. The catch is the entry requirement: a minimum deposit of $30,000 to open the account.
How much do I need to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is $30,000. That is a high bar for a first account, ranking 210 of 213 brands on this comparison. Readers with a smaller starting balance would be better served elsewhere.
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